Mechanical toy.



0. M..HAMMER.

MECHANICAL TOY.

APPLICATION mm OCT. 14. 191-4.

INVENTOR Patented May16, 1916.

OLA M. HAMMER, O'F OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANICAL TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

i Application filed October 14, 1914. Serial No. 866,595.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLAF M. HAMMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakmont, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Toys of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and more particularly to apparatus of the automatic type.

The objects of my invention are to provide an apparatus which is simple in construction, which is amusing, which combines simple and efiicient mechanism for provid ing the operation, and which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus in position to 0p erate; Fig. 2is aside elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the delivery structure of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. ,5 is a top plan view of one of the cars; Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 1.

The apparatus herein disclosed simulates, to, some extent, the operations of inclined railways in use in various cities, and in which the general structure includes a pair of cars adapted to be connected together in a manner to travel in opposite directions along the inclined track, these cars being adapted to carry fixed' loads of various types. In the present invention, the cars are adapted to carry the load only in a downward direction, the load providing the power for manipulating the cars or carriages, means being provided for automatically positioning the load on one of the cars as the other car automatically discharges the loadwhich formed the power in bringing the load receiving car into position. The load, in the present apparatus, is preferably n the form of a spherical body, such for instance, as a marble.

The track portion of the apparatus is formed from a plate 10, preferably of sheet metal and having a cross section substan tially as shown in Fig. 6 in which a central depression 10 extending lengthwise of the 'plate, cooperates with two marginal depressaid support being somewhat in the nature of a bail expanded at its lower end having the ,lower cross connecting portion formed with a bend 12-" adapted to engage a hook ll struck up from the arm 11, said arm being pivoted to the lower end of the plate, thus permitting the track structure to be collapsed for packing purposes when desired; the arm 11, when the structure is in operating position forms the base on which the entire apparatus is supported, the bail engaging with the armand the plate to retain the track in its properinclined position. Y

The upper end of the plate is provided with a central opening 13 which is adapted to receive a wheel supporting member 1 1, the latterbeing adapted to receive a peripherally grooved wheel 15, the general arrangement being more particularly shown in Fig. 7. The upper end of the plate is also provided with ears 16 and 17 formed by slitting the plate, these ears being adapted to support the delivery apparatus shown more particularly in Fig. 3, and consisting of a load container in the form of a plate 18 having a cut-away portion 18 the plate carrying curved portions 18 at opposite sides of this cut-away portion, said curved portions forming delivery chutes for the loads,

said chutes extending forwardly a suitable distance and being adapted to be controlled by gates 19. The plate 18 is preferably provided with a marginal flange 18 and also with an upwardly projecting division portion 18 the latter acting as a marginal flange for one side of the cut-away portion 18 The plate 18 is preferably bulged upwardly at its center, thus providing sloped portions which are adapted to direct the loads toward th end of the plate.

As shown in Fig. 2, the plate 18, when the apparatus is in operation, is inclined upwardly and as the flanges 18and 18 serve to provide run-ways for the loads extending in directions leading first toward the ends of the plate and then inwardly toward the chutes, it will be readily understood that a numberof loads in the form of marbles or other spherical bodies may be indifferently placed upon the plate von opposite'sides of the bulge from where they will travelto the chutes successively through the runways.

As willbe seen more particularly in Fig. 3, the load run-ways lead into the delivery I chutes at substantially right angles to the direction of length of these chutes, the result being that the pressure of the loads in the supply and the runways is not exertedin the direction of length of the chntes but regardless of the number of loads which i may 'be within the supply, and consequently, such mechanism may be of the simple form disclosed herein and yet be. free from damagetfurthermore, this absence of pressure from the runway practically permits the segregation and delivery of the loads one by one.

The gate structure is of simple form, shown (more particularly in Figs. 3 and 41,

I being simply in the form of a curved plate 19 having a rod 19 adapted to be mounted in ears 18 of the chutes, the plate being providedwith a forwardly extending arm 19, the latter carrying a stop 19 which is the chute when in normal position.

As shown in, Fig. 4:, it willb e understood that the plate .19 will. when the arm 19 is in its lower or normal position, act topre:

ventthe marble (indicated at 20.) frompassing downward through the chute. If the plate 19 be moved on its pivotbyraising the arm 19, the marble which is incontact with theplate will be released, and the rear portion of the plate will pass into the path of travel of the succeeding marble and thus prevent the latter from passing into dis charging position until theplate has again resumedlits normal position. I This arrange-.,

ment provides a simple and efficient feeding apparatus formed mainly of sheet metal. The. plate 18 is preferably compressed by means of sheet metal braces 21, as shown in Fig. 2.

23 designates a carpreferably formed of sheet metal and having sides 23 and a top curved inwardly as at 23'. The car is supported by wheels 24 of simple form, the lat ter being adapted to extend into the depressed portions of the track. As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, the car is generally triangular in shape in side elevation, the curved portion having its direction of length inclined downwardly toward the front of the car, the inclination beingsuftr,

cient to permit themarble to roll forward in being discharged fromthe car.

The car is providedwith a swinging device, formed of light material such as wire and indicated. at 26, said device. being pivoted at the rear of the curved portion of the car and extending forwardly, a curved portion 26 lying normally in the path of travel of the marble over the curved face. The swinging member is provided with a forwardly projecting arm 27, this arm being adapted to coact with a vertically extending member 28 carried by the platelO, said latter member having laterally projecting arms 28 which extend into the path of travel of the arm, 27, the arrangement being such that i ing element for moving the gate 19 to re- I lease a marble, this action taking place as the car approaches the ends of its upper travel, the laterally projecting portion 29 passing into contact with the arm 19, raising thelatter and moving the plate 19 on its pivot, adapted to rest upon the vertical walls of i The platef19 is preferably cut-away as at 19".

The ears are connected by a suitable flexible member such as a cord or wire 30, the latter having 1ts ends connected to the cars and passing around the wheel 15, the flexible member 30 being of such length that the marblewill bereleased from the lower car at the time when the arm 29 has raised the arm 19 a distance sufficient to permit the discharge of a marble from the chute, this arrangement'being provided in order that the weight of the marble on the descending car willcontinue for the, length of time sufficient to insure that themarble which forms the succeding load is released.

The operation of the apparatus is simple and readily understood from the drawings.

A number of marbles are :placed on the plate 18 so as to pass into the opposite runways, and the cars manipulated so as to bring one of them into contact with and raise the arm 19 of the gate with which it cooperates. This releases a marble which then rolls from the chute on to the car and into contact with the curved portion 26 where it is retained. As the marble increases the weight of the car, the loaded car will travel downwardly on its track, and through the connection of the flexible member 80, will cause the empty car to travel upwardly on the track. This movement of the loaded car will continue until the raising of the arm 27 releases the marble 01": the loaded car,

leaving the marble free to roll off the car.

During the latter portion of the travel of the loaded car, the ascending car has caused the gate of the other chute to be opened and thus release a marble from that chute on to the upper car, the latter in turn becoming the loaded car and reversing the operation. This operation will continue as along as there'is a marble in the chute of the ascend ing car, so that by employing a number of marbles, the cars will be caused to alternately travel up and down the incline and give a vivid showing of the action of the inclined railway structures.

What I claim is 1. In mechanical toys and in combination, a sheet metal track structure formed to provide a pair of parallel tracks, a support for positioning the structure with its direction of length inclined to the vertical and horizontal, a load receptacle at the upper end of said structure, independent load segregating and releasing means for discharging fixed loads individually from the receptacle above the tracks, a pair of load carriers movable on said tracks and connected to move in opposite directions in unison, said carriers each having means for manipulating the load discharge mechanism of the receptacle and also having means for temporarily retaining the load in position on the carrier, and means on the structure for releasing said load retaining means when each carrier reaches a predetermined position.

2-. In mechanical toys and in combination, a sheet metal track structure formed to provide a pair of parallel tracks, a support for positioning the structure with its direction of length inclined to the vertical and horizontal, a load receptacle at the upper end of said structure, independent load segregating and releasing means for discharging fixed loads individually from the receptacle above the tracks, a pair of load carriers movable on said tracks and connected to move in opposite directions in unison, said carriers each having means for manipulating the load discharge mechanism of the receptacle and also having means for temporarily retaining the load in position on the carrier, and means on the structure for releasing said load retaining means when each carrier reaches a predetermined position, said latter means being located in the path of travel ofi the load retaining means, whereby the travel of the carrier will automatically release the load.

8. In mechanical toys and in combination, a sheet metal track structure formed to provide a pair of parallel tracks, a support for positioning the structure with its direction of length inclined to the vertical and horizontal, a load receptacle at the upper end of said structure, independent load segregating and releasing means for discharging fixed loads individually from the receptacle above the tracks, a pair of load carriers movable on said tracks and connected to move in opposite directions in unison, said carriers each; having means for manipulating the load dis charge mechanism of the receptacle and also having means for temporarily retaining the load in position on the carrier, and means on the structure for releasing said load retaining means when each carrier reaches a predetermined position, the movements of said carriers being timed to provide the load releasing action on one carrier at approximately the time of load receiving operation of the other carrier, whereby the load discharge from the descending carrier and the load receipt of the ascending carrier will act to limit the length of movements of the carriers.

4:. In mechanical toys and in combination,- an inclined track structure, a pair of connected load carriers adapted to travel thereon in opposite directions, a load receptacle at the upper end of the track and having means for discharging individual loads to the carriers when the latter are in juxtaposition thereto, and load releasing means adjacent the bottom of the track, said discharging mechanism comprising a pair of chutes,

and a swinging gate in each chute, and having its axis extending at right angles to the direction of load travel through the gate, each gate being normally in position to prevent the escape of the load, each carrier having means cooperating with the gate to swing the latter and discharge the load on to the carrier during the travel of the carrier to its upper position.

In mechanical toys and in combination,

an inclined track structure, a pair of connected load carriers adapted to travel thereon in opposite directions, a load receptacle at the upper end of the track and having means for discharging individual loads to the carriers when the latter are in juxtaposition thereto, and load releasing means adjacent the bottom of the track, said discharging mechanism comprising a pair of chutes, and a swinging gate in each chute, and having lili its axis extending at right angles to thedi-M rection of load travel through the gate, each gate being normally in positionto prevent ,7

the escape of the load, each carrier having means cooperating with the gate to swing;

the latter and discharge the load on to the a carrier during the travel of the carrier to its upper position, said latter means embodying a fixed arm projecting above the carrier.

6. In mechanical toys and in combination, an inclined track structure, a pair of connected load carriers adapted to travel. thereon in opposite directions, a load receptacle at the upper end of the track and having means for discharging individual loads to the carriers when the latter are in juxtaposition thereto, load-retaining means on the carrier, and load releasing means adj acent the bottom of the track and adapted to cooperate with the carrier retaining. means to release the load, said carrier having a fixed load receiving surface extending continuous from end to end of the carrier and inclined with respect to the track and to the horizontal.

7. In mechanical toys and in combination, an lnclined track structure, a pair of 0011-1 nected load carriers adapted to travel thereon in opposite directions, a load receptacle at the upper end of the track and having means for discharging individual loads to the carriers when the latter are in 4 juxtaposition thereto, load-retaining means on the carrier, and load releasing means adjacent the bottom of the track and adapted to cooperate with the carrier retaining means to release the load, said carrier being formed,

of sheet metal and having a depressed load: receiving face extending continuous from end to end of the carrier and with the direction of length of the face inclined to the track and to the horizontal, and means on the carrier extending above said surface for ten'iporarily retaining the load against discharge from said face.

8. In mechanical toys and in combination,

an inclined track structure, a pair of connected load carriers adapted to travel thereon in opposite directions, a load receptacle at the upper end of the track and having means for discharging individual loads to the carriers when the latter are in juxtaposition thereto, load-retaining means on the carrier, and load releasing means adjacent the bottom of the track and adapted to cooperate with the carrier retaining means to release the load, said carrier being formed of sheet metal and having a depressed load receiving face extending continuous from end to end of the carrier and with the direction of length of the face inclined to the track and to the horizontal, and means onthe carrier extending above said surface for temporarily retaining the load against discharge from sa d face, sald latter means beingautomatically shifted to :release the :l oa d when the-carrier approaches its lower Lllmlti a of movement. 1.

In mechanical: toys, a load receivingr o element movable in 'onedirection underthe' :7

weight of the load, and means for segregat ing loads for and delivering: loads to :said. .element,-:sa1dmeans comprislng a load runs way, a pivoted gate in said: run-way and having its pivot axis, extending at rightH angles to the direction of lengthzof the r.un-. way and located above the path of movementi of the load throughsaid run-way, and com plemental means carried by the carrier and.

said, gate for-moving the gate on its pivot'gg to place it in load-delivering position. and: retain it in such position whilethe element is in load-receiving position, said gate having aeonfiguration to act as a load restrains ing element at either extremeof its pivotal g5 movement.

10.' In mechanical toys, a load carrier movable in one direction under the weight: 1 of the load, and means for segregating loads, for anddelivering loads to said Vcarrier," said means comprising a load run-Way, a pivoted gate in said run-way and having its: pivot axisextending at right angles 'to the-w direction of length of the run-way .and'-located above the path of-movement of theload through said run-way, and complemen tal means carried by theicarrierand said gate for moving the vgate on'its pivot to place it in load-delivering position and re-e tain it in such position while the element is in load-receiving position, said gate having a configuration whereby it will act to prevent escape of the loadrat one extreme of its pivotal movement-and act to segregate a.

the load from-the supply and permit :its es cape when at its other extreme of pivotal.

movement.

11. In mechanical toys, a load carrier movable in one direction under the weight 1 of the load, andomeans forvsegregatingloads for and deliveringiloads to said carrier, said means comprising a load run-way, a pivotedgate in said run-way andihavinguits pivot axis extending at right angles to the direction of length of the run-way and located'1115 above the path of movement of the load through said run-way, and complemental by the carrier =rocking'the gate to segregate such load from the 'Isupply and release the segregated loadfto the carrier'. .51

12. In a mechanical toy and in combinathe supply and run-Way loads, and a loadtion, a load supply structure for fixed loads, receiving element adapted to operate the a load-delivery chute having one end gategate control to release the chute loads one by controlled, a load run-Way connecting the one. 5 supply with the chute, said run-Way meeting In testimony whereof I aifix my signa- 5 the chute at substantially right angles to ture in presence of tWo Witnesses.

provide load delivery therefrom in direc- OLAF M. HAMMER. tions to intersect the chute direction of Witnesses: length, whereby the loads in the chute Will W. G. DOQLITTLE,

10 be substantially free from the pressure of F. E. GAITHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

